National Geographic Bee

Dominique Cocke, of Buchanan, a fifth-grader at Stark Middle School in Buchanan, will be in good shape to compete in the school district's middle-school Geography Bee in the next few years. She emerged as one of 10 finalists in Stark's elementary-level Bee, a precursor to the annual National Geographic Bee to be held in Washington, D.C., this spring.

Today The Natural Family Planning Program of St. Joseph County, 325 N. Francis St., South Bend, will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (574) 234-5411. Today Students in grades 4 to 8 living in St. Joseph County who are homeschooling full time are eligible for the local National Geographic Bee. The Bee will be on Nov. 28. Call (574) 234-1584 to register. Friday The Howard Park Ice Rink will open for the season on Friday. For hours and fees, call (574)

The Natural Family Planning Program of St. Joseph County, 325 N. Francis St., South Bend, will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (574) 234-5411. Students in grades 4 to 8 living in St. Joseph County who are homeschooling full time are eligible for the local National Geographic Bee. The Bee will be on Nov. 28. Call (574) 234-1584 to register. The Howard Park Ice Rink will open for the season on Friday. For hours and fees, call (574) 299-4765 or go to the Web site: www.sbpark.

Matthew Spillane is a seventh-grader at LaSalle Intermediate Center. He will compete March 31 in the state-level National Geographic Bee in Indianapolis. If he wins, he will advance to the national finals May 23 and 24 at Washington, D.C. Q: How did your interest in geography grow? A: I've always been interested in traveling. I've been to England, and when I was there, it was fun to see all these different cultures and how they do everything differently from our normal thinking of what life is like.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A 13-year-old Michigan City boy whose family visits a different national park each summer beat out 100 other youngsters to win the Indiana Geographic Bee. Erik Troske, a seventh-grader at Barker Middle School in Michigan City, knew the world's landscape the best among the 101 youngsters in grades 4-8 who competed in Friday's competition at the Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis campus. Troske's victory makes him eligible for the National Geographic Bee on May 23 in Washington, D.C., where students will vie for scholarships worth $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000.

BUCHANAN -- Jeff Mucha held the map up to the light. It was about the major rivers in the United States. And it was backward. The fifth-grader at Moccasin Elementary School was taking part in a National Geographic Bee. He was one of the top 10 finalists and the map was a resource to answer questions in the final found. A replacement map was quickly made and the school library grew quiet as tension filled the air. Fourth-grader Isaac Lavender and Jeff answered enough questions to qualify for the championship round.

GRANGER -- Caroline and Margaret Peterson are known locally for their achievements in academic competition. Now the sisters move to a bigger stage, competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee (Margaret) and the National Geographic Bee (Caroline) over the next two weeks in theWashington, D.C., area. First up will be Caroline, 14, who will be among 54 fourth- through eighth-grade contestants in the Geographic Bee that begins Tuesday at the National Geographic Society in Washington.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- A 13-year-old Michigan City boy whose family visits a different national park each summer beat out 100 other youngsters to win the Indiana Geographic Bee. Erik Troske, a seventh-grader at Barker Middle School in Michigan City, knew the world's landscape the best among the 101 youngsters in grades 4-8 who competed in Friday's competition at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus. Troske's victory makes him eligible for the National Geographic Bee on May 23 in Washington, D.C., where students will vie for scholarships worth $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000.

GRANGER -- Thirteen-year-old Margaret Peterson is no stranger to the nation's capital. For the third time, the Granger girl will be heading to Washington, D.C., for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which begins Wednesday. The home-schooled seventh-grader successfully defended her South Bend Tribune Regional Spelling Bee championship in March at Bethel College. She's won the regional three of the past four years. Spelling seems to come naturally for Margaret, who has been competing since she was 5 years old. "I participate in spelling bees because it's fun," she says.

GRANGER -- Caroline and Margaret Peterson are known locally for their achievements in academic competition. Now the sisters move to a bigger stage, competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee (Margaret) and the National Geographic Bee (Caroline) over the next two weeks in theWashington, D.C., area. First up will be Caroline, 14, who will be among 54 fourth- through eighth-grade contestants in the Geographic Bee that begins Tuesday at the National Geographic Society in Washington.

SOUTH BEND Purdue in SB to host open house April 19 The Purdue University College of Technology at South Bend will host an open house for prospective students from noon to 4 p.m. April 19. The event is free and open to the general public. The local program is based in the Purdue Technology building on the Indiana University South Bend campus. The event will include a tour, opportunities to meet with Purdue faculty and students, admission and financial aid information, a prize drawing and refreshments.

SOUTH BEND Purdue in SB to host open house April 19 The Purdue University College of Technology at South Bend will host an open house for prospective students from noon to 4 p.m. April 19. The event is free and open to the general public. The local program is based in the Purdue Technology building on the Indiana University South Bend campus. The event will include a tour, opportunities to meet with Purdue faculty and students, admission and financial aid information, a prize drawing and refreshments.

Dominique Cocke, of Buchanan, a fifth-grader at Stark Middle School in Buchanan, will be in good shape to compete in the school district's middle-school Geography Bee in the next few years. She emerged as one of 10 finalists in Stark's elementary-level Bee, a precursor to the annual National Geographic Bee to be held in Washington, D.C., this spring.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- A 13-year-old Michigan City boy whose family visits a different national park each summer beat out 100 other youngsters to win the Indiana Geographic Bee. Erik Troske, a seventh-grader at Barker Middle School in Michigan City, knew the world's landscape the best among the 101 youngsters in grades 4-8 who competed in Friday's competition at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus. Troske's victory makes him eligible for the National Geographic Bee on May 23 in Washington, D.C., where students will vie for scholarships worth $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A 13-year-old Michigan City boy whose family visits a different national park each summer beat out 100 other youngsters to win the Indiana Geographic Bee. Erik Troske, a seventh-grader at Barker Middle School in Michigan City, knew the world's landscape the best among the 101 youngsters in grades 4-8 who competed in Friday's competition at the Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis campus. Troske's victory makes him eligible for the National Geographic Bee on May 23 in Washington, D.C., where students will vie for scholarships worth $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000.

Matthew Spillane is a seventh-grader at LaSalle Intermediate Center. He will compete March 31 in the state-level National Geographic Bee in Indianapolis. If he wins, he will advance to the national finals May 23 and 24 at Washington, D.C. Q: How did your interest in geography grow? A: I've always been interested in traveling. I've been to England, and when I was there, it was fun to see all these different cultures and how they do everything differently from our normal thinking of what life is like.

BUCHANAN -- Jeff Mucha held the map up to the light. It was about the major rivers in the United States. And it was backward. The fifth-grader at Moccasin Elementary School was taking part in a National Geographic Bee. He was one of the top 10 finalists and the map was a resource to answer questions in the final found. A replacement map was quickly made and the school library grew quiet as tension filled the air. Fourth-grader Isaac Lavender and Jeff answered enough questions to qualify for the championship round.